Processing of undeliverable as addressed mail

ABSTRACT

A computerized method includes sorting mail that comprises a multiple pass mail sort operation, wherein the multiple pass mail sort operation for a mail piece that is undeliverable as addressed comprises performing a first pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation, wherein performing the first pass comprises capturing data to identify a feature of the mail piece. The multiple pass mail sort operation also includes generating a first fingerprint for the mail piece between performing the first pass and performing a second pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation. The multiple pass mail sort operation also includes performing the second pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation. Performing the second pass includes determining a final disposition of the mail piece that is undeliverable as addressed.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/647,370, entitled PROCESSING OF UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSEDMAIL, filed Oct. 8, 2012, now allowed and which is incorporated hereinby reference, which in turn claims the benefit of a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/305,420, entitled PROCESSING OFUNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED MAIL, filed Nov. 28, 2011, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,311,667 and which is incorporated herein by reference, whichin turn claims the benefit of a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/108,681, entitled PROCESSING OF UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSEDMAIL, filed Apr. 24, 2008, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,086,346 andwhich is incorporated herein by reference, which in turn claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/925,874, filed onApr. 24, 2007, which is incorporated also herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this document contains material that issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever. The following notice applies to the software, data, and/orscreenshots which may be described below and in the drawings that form apart of this document: Copyright 2013, Trinity Technical Group,Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.

BACKGROUND

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are notnecessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued.Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches describedin this section are not prior art to the claims in this application andare not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

The delivery of mail includes identification and processing of mail thatis undeliverable as addressed (UAA). The processing of UAA may includereturning to the sender, forwarding to a different address, discarding,etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects,features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments are provided by way of example and not limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicatesimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a system diagram for a multiple pass mail sort operation thatincludes processing undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail pieces,according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a method for performing a multiple pass mail sortoperation that includes processing UAA mail pieces, according to someexample embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method for performing a first pass of multiplepass mail sort operation that includes processing UAA mail pieces,according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a method for processing of UAA mail pieces thatis executed between the first pass and the second pass of a multiplepass mail sort operation, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a method for performing a second pass of multiplepass mail sort operation that includes processing UAA mail pieces,according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a computer that may be used for comparison output ofelectronic documents, according to some example embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Methods, apparatus and systems for processing undeliverable as addressedmail are described. In the following description, numerous specificdetails are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of theinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure the understanding of this description.

Some example embodiments provide for a more efficient final dispositionof UAA mail in a multiple pass mail sort operation. Some mail pieces arepre-bar coded by the sender to enable the sender to qualify for adiscount for delivery of such mail. In some example embodiments, suchmail comprises a bar code that comprises 11 digits that identifies thedelivery point for a mail item. This bar code may include anidentification of the following regarding the recipient of the mailitem: (1) zip code, (2) street, and (3) location on the street (e.g.,specific house on a residential street).

A mail sorter (e.g., a delivery point bar code sorter, a flat sequencingmail sorter, a parcel mail sorter, etc.) may be used to sort such mail.In certain modes of operations, the mail pieces are passed multipletimes through the mail sorter to sort such mail. The multiple passesensure that the mail pieces are in delivery sequence for mail carriers.In some example embodiments, a multiple pass sort operation includessorting the mail in a first pass by delivery sequence of each mailcarrier. In particular, the mail for the first delivery sequence ofcarriers are sorted by pocket #n, the second delivery sequence for allmail carriers to pocket #n+1, etc. A second pass of the multiple passsort operation includes running the mail pieces from each first passpocket in order and final sorting of such mail pieces to various sortpockets by the mail carrier. In particular, the mail pieces for mailcarrier #c are placed in pocket #n, mail pieces for mail carrier #c+1are placed in pocket #n+1, etc. A more detailed description of thesemultiple passes is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,971; Inventors:Horace W. Weeks, James J. Strohmeyer and Jeffrey R. Nice; Assignee:United States Postal Service; Issued on Nov. 15, 1994, which is herebyincorporated by reference. Accordingly, after the second pass, the mailpieces for each mail carrier are sorted in order of their deliverysequence.

In some example embodiments, identification and final disposition of UAAmail pieces may be performed as part of this multiple pass mail sortoperation. In some example embodiments, final disposition of the UAAmail pieces is integrated into the second pass of the multiple pass mailsort operation. Final disposition of a UAA mail piece may compriseforwarding, returning to sender, disposing, etc. Such embodiments are incontrast to conventional techniques for processing of UAA mail pieces.In particular, conventional techniques only identify the UAA pieceswithin the multiple pass mail sort operation. However, these techniquesare not able to perform final disposition. Rather, using conventionaltechniques, final disposition of UAA mail pieces is performed in aseparate process that may require human intervention for review,physical movement to a different device, etc. Such conventionaltechniques are, thus, time consuming and costly.

In some example embodiments, data to identify a candidate UAA mail pieceis captured during the first pass of the mail sort operation. The datamay be various features of a mail piece (e.g., size, return address,etc.). A fingerprint is generated based on the captured data. A moredetailed description of the generation of a fingerprint is set forth inU.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0080266A1, Inventors: Shahrom Kiani,Cheryl C. Miller, Eddie Kin Hang Lui, Sekhavat Sharghi and Michael J.Cykana; Publication Date: Apr. 13, 2006, which is hereby incorporated byreference. This fingerprint may enable the unique identification of theUAA mail piece relative to the other mail pieces being attempted to bedelivered to a same location (i.e., the same delivery point). In someexample embodiments, the generation of the fingerprint may be performedbetween the first pass and the second pass. Alternatively or inaddition, the generation of the fingerprint may be performed as part ofthe first pass or the second pass, depending on the processing power ofthe mail sorter. During the second pass, the fingerprint may be used inidentification and final disposition of the UAA mail pieces.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram for a multiple pass mail sort operation thatincludes processing undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail pieces,according to some example embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100that includes a mail sorter 102. The mail sorter 102 may be a deliverypoint bar code sorter, a flat sequencing mail sorter, or any other typeof device that sorts mail pieces. In some example embodiments, the mailsorter 102 may sort the mail pieces wherein the mail pieces areprocessed multiple times there through. In particular, the mail piecesare passed multiple times through the mail sorter 102 to sort the mail.In some example embodiments, the mail pieces are sorted by the mailsorter 102 so that deliverable addressed as mailed pieces are sorted bymail carriers and the delivery sequence for the given mail carriers.Moreover, as further described below, as part of the second pass of themultiple pass sort operation (through the mail sorter), finaldisposition is made of the UAA mail pieces.

Mail sorter 102 comprises a sort module 104 and a UAA module 106. Thesort module 104 and the UAA module 106 may be software, hardware,firmware or a combination thereof. While the UAA module 106 is shown asbeing part of the mail sorter 102, embodiments are not so limited. Insome example embodiments, the UAA module 106 may be separate from themail sorter 102. Alternatively or in addition, the functionality of theUAA module 106 may be incorporated into the sort module 104.

The sort module 104 receives and sorts the mail pieces. In some exampleembodiments, the sort module 104 sorts the mail pieces based on a barcode comprising an 11-digit delivery point that may include anidentification of the following regarding the recipient of the mailitem: (1) zip code, (2) street, and (3) location on the street (e.g.,specific house on a residential street). The bar code may be pre-printedby the mailer. In some example embodiments, a given set of mail piecesare passed through the sort module 104 at least two times to sort themail pieces accordingly to particular mail carriers and a deliverysequence for a given mail carrier.

As shown, the mail pieces 108 are passed to the sort module 106 during afirst pass 110 of the multiple pass mail sort operation. The sort module104 may identify mail pieces as candidate UAA mail pieces by comparingthe 11-digit delivery point to a table, list, etc. of addresses ofrecipients of mail whose address has changed (hereinafter referred to asa change of address table). In particular, based on the 11-digitdelivery point, the sort module 104 may be able to identify that one ormore persons have changed addresses for this particular location.Multiple persons/entities may be having mail delivered to thisparticular location. Accordingly, one person for a given location mayhave changed addresses, while other persons for this location have notchanged addresses. Therefore, until the recipient is identified, themail piece is only a candidate UAA mail piece.

If the sort module 104 identifies the mail piece as a candidate UAA mailpiece, the sort module 104 may pass the mail piece to the UAA module 106for further processing (UAA mail pieces—first pass 112). In some exampleembodiments, the UAA module 106 may capture data that includesidentifying features of the candidate UAA mail piece. In some exampleembodiments, the UAA module 106 may use optical character recognition orother image processing technique to capture such data. The featurescaptured may include the size of the mail piece, the return address,etc. In order to confirm UAA and perform final disposition, the UAAmodule 106 may also capture data to identify the name of the recipient,the class (e.g., first class) and any endorsements on the mail piece (asfurther described below). Optical character recognition processing mayalso be used to capture such data. The UAA module 106 may output thisdata (identification of mail pieces (UAA)—first pass 1116). Thiscaptured data may be stored in any type of machine-readable media(internal and/or external to the mail sorter 102 (not shown)) forsubsequent access during the second pass.

The sort module 104 outputs the mail pieces (both non-UAA and UAA)—114.In some example embodiments, after the first pass, the mail pieces aresorted according to the mail carrier that is to deliver such mailpieces. As further described below, in some example embodiments, the UAAmodule 106 performs other processing for the candidate UAA mail pieces.Such processing may be executed between the first pass and the secondpass of the multiple pass mail sort operation. In some exampleembodiments, as part of such processing, the UAA module 106 generates afingerprint that identifies the candidate UAA mail pieces relative toother candidate UAA mail pieces for a particular recipient. In someexample embodiments, the fingerprint is derived from at least one of thedelivery point, the size, return address and endorsements of a mailpiece. The following are example fingerprints to help illustrate. Inparticular, in these examples, the fingerprint for a mail piececomprises the 11-digit delivery point, the size, the name, the returnaddress and the endorsement. As further described below, the sort module104 may determine uniqueness of a mail piece by reviewing certain partsof the fingerprint in a given order. In some example embodiments, if thefirst part of the fingerprint being reviewed is unique, the remainingparts are not reviewed. Thus, the sort module 104 reviews the parts ofthe fingerprint in a given order until uniqueness is found for a givenmail piece. Here are example fingerprints of four mail pieces (A-D):

Mail Return Piece 11-Digit Size Name Address Endorsements A76006-1234-12 15000 Joe Simms 94505 None B 76006-1234-12 15000 Joe Simms74506 None C 76006-1234-12 15000 Nancy Jones 67902 None D 76456-1345-1116000 John Doe None None

Mail piece D may be determined to be unique by its 11-digit deliverypoint. In-particular, only the 11-digit delivery point would need to bechecked. Mail piece A may be determined to be unique by its returnaddress. The 11-digit delivery point, the size, the name and the returnaddress would need to be checked. Mail piece B may be determined to beunique by its return address. The 11-digit delivery point, the size, thename and the return address would need to be checked. Mail piece C maybe determined to be unique by its name. The 11-digit delivery point, thesize and the name would need to be checked.

As shown, the mail pieces (both UAA and non-UAA) from the first pass areinput into the sort module 104 again—second pass 120. The sort module104 again identifies the candidate UAA mail pieces using the 11-digitdelivery point data (as described above for the first pass). If the sortmodule 104 identifies the mail piece as a candidate UAA mail piece, thesort module 104 may pass the mail piece to the UAA module 106 forfurther processing (UAA mail pieces—second pass 122). As part of thesecond pass, for a candidate UAA mail piece, the UAA module 106determines whether the UAA mail piece is confirmed to be an actual UAAmail piece. The UAA module 106 outputs an identification of the UAA mailpieces for final disposition—second pass 124.

If confirmed, the sort module 104 also performs a final disposition ofthe UAA mail piece—128. In some example embodiments, the confirmation ofthe UAA mail piece is determined based on the identification of therecipient. As described above, the name of the recipient was identifiedby the UAA module 106 either during the first pass or during theprocessing between the first pass and the second pass. The sort module106 also outputs the mail pieces (both non-UAA and UAA)—second pass 126.In some example embodiments, after the second pass, the mail pieces aresorted according in delivery sequence for the different mail carriersthat are to deliver such mail pieces.

Operations, according to example embodiments, are now described. Incertain embodiments, the operations are performed by instructionsresiding on machine-readable media (e.g., software), while in otherembodiments, the methods are performed by hardware or other logic (e.g.,digital logic). FIG. 2 is a diagram of a method for performing amultiple pass mail sort operation that includes processing UAA mailpieces, according to some example embodiments. A method 200 is describedwith reference to FIG. 1. In some example embodiments, the method 200 isperformed by at least one of the sort module 104 and the UAA module 106.The method 200 commences at block 202.

At block 202, the sort module 104 receives the mail pieces for sorting.The mail pieces may comprise both UAA and non-UAA mail pieces. In someexample embodiments, the mail pieces are pre-bar coded by the sender ofthe mail pieces. The bar code may comprise an 11-digit delivery pointthat may include an identification of the following regarding therecipient of the mail item: (1) zip code, (2) street, and (3) locationon the street. The method 200 continues at block 204.

At block 204, the sort module 104 performs a first pass of a multiplepass mail sort operation. As part of the first pass, the sort module 104may sort the mail pieces accordingly to the mail carrier that is todeliver the mail pieces. The sort module 104 may perform this sort usingthe delivery point bar code. FIG. 3 provides a more detailed descriptionof the first pass operation (see description below). The methodcontinues at block 206.

At block 206, the sort module 104 determines whether any of the mailpieces are candidate UAA mail pieces. In some example embodiments, thesort module 104 may identify the candidate UAA mail pieces using thedelivery point bar code. In particular, the sort module 104 may comparethe delivery point bar code to a table, list, etc. of addresses ofrecipients of mail whose address has changed. As described above, if thedelivery point bar code for a mail piece is within this list ofaddresses, the sort module 104 identifies the mail piece as a candidateUAA mail piece. As described below, further confirmation and finaldisposition of a candidate UAA mail piece is performed in subsequentoperations. If there are no candidate UAA mail pieces, the method 200continues at block 210 (which is described in more detail below).Otherwise, the method 200 continues at block 208.

At block 208, the UAA module 106 performs UAA processing on thecandidate UAA mail pieces. In some example embodiments, this UAAprocessing is performed between the first pass and the second pass ofthe multiple pass mail sort operation. FIG. 4 provides a more detaileddescription of the UAA processing (see description below). The methodcontinues at block 210.

At block 210, the sort module 104 performs a second pass of the multiplepass mail sort operation. As part of the second pass, the sort module104 may sort the mail pieces in order of delivery sequence for thedifferent mail carriers. The sort module 104 may perform this sort usingthe delivery point bar code. FIG. 5 provides a more detailed descriptionof the first pass operation (see description below). The methodcontinues at block 212.

At block 212, the sort module 104 determines whether any of the mailpieces are confirmed to be UAA mail pieces. In some example embodiments,the sort module 104 may identify the UAA mail pieces using the deliverypoint bar code, different features of the mail piece that are includedin the fingerprint, etc. A more detailed description of thisidentification is set forth below in the description of FIG. 5. In someexample embodiments, this determination of UAA mail pieces is performedas part of the second pass. If there are no UAA mail pieces to process,the method 200 is complete. Otherwise, the method 200 continues at block214.

At block 214, the sort module 104 performs a final UAA disposition ofthe UAA mail pieces as part of the second pass. Because the UAA mailpieces are confirmed, final disposition may occur. In some exampleembodiments, final disposition may include return the mail piece to thesender, forwarding to a new address or disposing. Final disposition maydepend on the class of mail, the length of time since the address haschanged, mailer applied endorsements, etc. For example, if the mailpiece is first class mail and the length of time is less than 18 months,the mail piece is labeled for forwarding to the new address. If the mailpiece is standard A class mail and the length of time is greater 30 daysand there are no endorsements, the mail piece is discarded. Accordingly,as described, the final disposition of UAA mail pieces may be performedas part of the second pass of a multiple pass mail sort operation. Theoperations of the method 200 are complete.

A more detailed description of the first pass operations is now setforth. In particular, FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method for performing afirst pass of multiple pass mail sort operation that includes processingUAA mail pieces, according to some example embodiments. A method 300 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 1. In some example embodiments, themethod 300 is performed by the sort module 104. For sake of clarity, themethod 300 is described with reference to the processing of one mailpiece, such processing is applicable to the multiple mail piecesreceived. The method 300 commences at block 302.

At block 302, the sort module 104 determines the delivery point bar codeof a mail piece. As described above, the bar code may be an 11-digit barcode that may be placed on the mail piece by the sender. The methodcontinues at block 304.

At block 304, the sort module 104 determines whether the mail piece is acandidate UAA mail piece. In some example embodiments, the sort module104 may identify the candidate UAA mail pieces using the delivery pointbar code. As described above, the sort module 104 may compare thedelivery point bar code to a table, list, etc. of addresses ofrecipients of mail whose address has changed. If the mail piece is not acandidate UAA mail piece, the method continues at block 310 (which isdescribed in more detail below). Otherwise, the method 300 continues atblock 308.

At block 308, the sort module 104 captures an image of the mail piecefor UAA processing. As described below, the captured image may be inputinto OCR/image processing to determine different features of the mailpiece. Thus, the image is captured for subsequent processing. Theidentification of the features enable the UAA module 106 to confirm thata candidate UAA mail piece is a UAA mail piece. Also, the sort module104 may use the identification of the features to determine finaldisposition of a confirmed UAA mail piece during second pass operations(as described below). The method continues at block 310.

At block 310, the sort module 104 sorts the mail piece. The sort module104 may perform this sort using the 11-digit delivery point bar code.The output from this first pass is the mail pieces being sortedaccording to mail carriers that are to deliver the mail pieces. Theoperations of the method 300 are complete.

A more detailed description of the UAA processing that may occur betweenthe first pass and the second pass is now set forth. In particular, FIG.4 is a diagram of a method for processing of UAA mail pieces that isexecuted between the first pass and the second pass of a multiple passmail sort operation, according to some example embodiments. A method 400is described with reference to FIG. 1. In some example embodiments, themethod 400 is performed by the UAA module 106. For sake of clarity, themethod 400 is described with reference to the processing of onecandidate UAA mail piece, such processing is applicable to the multiplecandidate UAA mail pieces received. The method 400 commences at block402.

At block 402, the UAA module 106 generates a fingerprint of thecandidate UAA mail piece that is derived from features of the candidateUAA mail piece. Some of the features used for generating the fingerprintinclude the return address, size of the mail piece, etc. As describedabove, an image of the mail piece is captured. The UAA module 106 mayuse a number of different techniques (e.g., OCR) to determine featuresof the mail piece based on the captured image. The UAA module 106 mayinput the values for the features for this particular mail piece (e.g.,size, data from the return address (such as the city, state, zip code,etc.)) into some type of fingerprint generation algorithm. The outputfrom this fingerprint generation algorithm may be some alphanumericvalue that is representative of the mail piece. In some exampleembodiments, the fingerprint may be unique relative to fingerprints forother candidate UAA mail pieces for a given delivery point bar code.Accordingly, if a location having a given delivery point bar code hasmultiple candidate UAA mail pieces, the fingerprints can uniquelyidentify the mail pieces, thereby enabling appropriate final dispositionfor the different mail pieces. For example, two of the UAA mail piecesmay be disposed; two forwarded and one returned to the sender. Themethod 400 continues at block 404.

At block 404, the UAA module 106 stores the fingerprint for UAAidentification during the second pass of the multiple pass mail sortoperation. The UAA module 106 may store the fingerprint in a local orremote machine-readable medium relative to the mail sorter 102. Themethod 400 continues at block 406.

At block 406, the UAA module 106 determines the recipient's name (if notalready available), the class and endorsements for the candidate UAAmail piece. The UAA module 106 may also make this determination based oncaptured image of the mail piece. The UAA module 106 may use a number ofdifferent techniques (e.g., OCR) to determine the class and anyendorsements on the mail piece. The method continues at block 408.

At block 408, the UAA module 106 stores the recipient's name, the classand any endorsements of the candidate UAA mail piece for UAA processingduring the second pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation. Similarto the fingerprint, the UAA module 106 may store the class and anyendorsements for the mail piece in a local or remote machine-readablemedium relative to the mail sorter 102. The method 400 is complete.

A more detailed description of the second pass operations is now setforth. In particular, FIG. 5 is a diagram of a method for performing asecond pass of multiple pass mail sort operation that includesprocessing UAA mail pieces, according to some example embodiments. Amethod 500 is described with reference to FIG. 1. In some exampleembodiments, the method 500 is performed by the sort module 104. Forsake of clarity, the method 500 is described with reference to theprocessing of one mail piece, such processing is applicable to themultiple mail pieces received. The method 500 commences at block 502.

At block 502, the sort module 104 determines the delivery point bar codeof a mail piece. As described above, the bar code may be an 11-digit barcode that may be placed on the mail piece by the sender. The methodcontinues at block 504.

At block 504, the sort module 104 determines whether the mail piece is acandidate UAA mail piece. In some example embodiments, the sort module104 may identify the candidate UAA mail pieces using the delivery pointbar code. As described above, the sort module 104 may compare thedelivery point bar code to a change of address table. If the mail pieceis not a candidate UAA mail piece, the method continues at block 514(which is described in more detail below). Otherwise, the method 500continues at block 506.

At block 506, the sort module 104 determines whether the candidate UAAmail piece is unique relative to the particular delivery point bar code.In particular, the sort module 104 determines whether the candidate UAAmail piece is the only mail piece (among those mail pieces being sorted)for this particular delivery point bar code. The sort module 104 maymake this determination based on the data regarding delivery point barcodes for the mail pieces that was obtained during the first pass. Ifthere is only one mail piece for this particular delivery point barcode, the mail piece is considered unique. If the mail piece is unique,the method 500 continues at block 510 (which is described in more detailbelow). Otherwise, the method 500 continues at block 508.

At block 508, the sort module 104 determines uniqueness of the mailpiece based on the fingerprint (that was generated during the processingbetween the first pass and the second pass). In some exampleembodiments, the sort module 104 may look at only parts of thefingerprint to determine uniqueness. For example, the sort module 104may look at the size of the mail piece. If the size of the mail piece isunique relative to other mail pieces for this delivery point, then thedetermination is complete. Otherwise, other parts of the fingerprint areused. For example, the sort module 104 may review different parts of thereturn address (name, zip code, etc.) to determine the uniqueness. Insome example embodiments, if the different parts of the fingerprint oftwo mail pieces for a delivery point are the same, the sort module 104may process the two mail pieces the same (e.g., the type of finaldisposition for UAA mail pieces). The method continues at block 510.

At block 510, the sort module 104 determines whether the mail piece is aUAA mail piece. In some example embodiments, the sort module 104determines if the recipient's name for this mail piece is in an entry inthe change of address table for this delivery point. As described above,multiple recipients of mail pieces may be associated with a givendelivery point. If the recipient's name on the mail piece is in thechange of address table, the mail piece is considered to be a UAA mailpiece. Otherwise, the mail piece is processed as a non-UAA mail piece.If the mail piece is a non-UAA mail piece, the method continues at block514, which is described in more detail below. Otherwise, the methodcontinues at block 512.

At block 512, the sort module 104 performs a final disposition of theUAA mail piece. As described above (at blocks 506/508), the sort module104 has identified the mail piece as a UAA mail piece (either becausethere is only one UAA mail piece for the delivery point bar code orusing the fingerprint to differentiate). The sort module 104 mayretrieve the class and any endorsements for this identified UAA mailpiece (that were determined and stored during by the UAA module 106during the processing between the first and second pass). As describedabove during this processing, the UAA module 106 may have stored suchdata into a UAA table for the different candidate UAA mail pieces. Thus,the sort module 104 may retrieve this data for the particular UAA mailpiece. The sort module 104 may perform final disposition based on itsclass and any endorsements. For example regarding endorsements, anendorsement may be address service requested, change service requested,do not forward, etc. For example regarding class, if the mail piece isfirst class mail and the length of time is less than a given time period(e.g., 12 months, 18 months, etc.) the mail piece is labeled forforwarding to the new address. If the mail piece is standard A classmail and the length of time is greater than a given time period (e.g.,30 days, 60 days, etc.) and there are no endorsements, the mail piece isdiscarded. Therefore, final disposition may be various combinationsdepending on the class and any endorsements. Thus, in some exampleembodiments, final disposition may be returning to sender, forwarding tonew address, discarding, notifying the sender, etc. In some exampleembodiments, as part of the final disposition during the second pass,the sort module 104 may label the mail piece for returning, forwarding,etc. Alternatively, the sort module 104 may just discard the mail pieceduring the second pass. Therefore, in contrast to conventionalapproaches, in some example embodiments, the final disposition isindependent of application of a bar code by the multiple pass mail sortoperation for identification for final disposition of the mail piece. Incontrast, the fingerprint may be created between the first pass and thesecond pass and used in the second pass for identification for finaldisposition. The operations of the method 500 are complete.

At block 514, the sort module 104 sorts the mail piece. The sort module104 may perform this sort using the delivery point bar code. The outputfrom this second pass is the mail pieces being sorted in deliverysequence for the different mail carriers that are to deliver the mailpieces. The operations of the method 500 are complete.

A detailed block diagram of an example computer environment, accordingto some embodiments, is now described. In particular, FIG. 6 illustratesa computer that may be used for processing of UAA mail pieces, accordingto some example embodiments. In some example embodiments, the computersystem 600 may be representative of parts of the mail sorter 102, thesort module 104 or the UAA module 106.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the computer system 600 comprises processor(s)602. The computer system 600 also includes a memory unit 630, processorbus 622, and Input/Output controller hub (ICH) 624. The processor(s)602, memory unit 630, and ICH 624 are coupled to the processor bus 622.The processor(s) 602 may comprise any suitable processor architecture.The computer system 600 may comprise one, two, three, or moreprocessors, any of which may execute a set of instructions in accordancewith embodiments of the invention.

The memory unit 630 may store data and/or instructions, and may compriseany suitable memory, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Thecomputer system 600 also includes IDE drive(s) 608 and/or other suitablestorage devices. A graphics controller 604 controls the display ofinformation on a display device 606, according to some embodiments ofthe invention.

The input/output controller hub (ICH) 624 provides an interface to I/Odevices or peripheral components for the computer system 600. The ICH624 may comprise any suitable interface controller to provide for anysuitable communication link to the processor(s) 602, memory unit 630and/or to any suitable device or component in communication with the ICH624. For one embodiment of the invention, the ICH 624 provides suitablearbitration and buffering for each interface.

For some embodiments of the invention, the ICH 624 provides an interfaceto one or more suitable integrated drive electronics (IDE) drives 608,such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or compact disc read only memory (CDROM) drive, or to suitable universal serial bus (USB) devices throughone or more USB ports 610. For one embodiment, the ICH 624 also providesan interface to a keyboard 612, a mouse 614, a CD-ROM drive 618, one ormore suitable devices through one or more Firewire ports 616. For oneembodiment of the invention, the ICH 624 also provides a networkinterface 620 though which the computer system 600 can communicate withother computers and/or devices.

In some embodiments, the computer system 600 includes a machine-readablemedium that stores a set of instructions (e.g., software) embodying anyone, or all, of the methodologies for described herein. Furthermore,software may reside, completely or at least partially, within memoryunit 630 and/or within the processor(s) 602.

In the description, numerous specific details such as logicimplementations, opcodes, means to specify operands, resourcepartitioning/sharing/duplication implementations, types andinterrelationships of system components, and logicpartitioning/integration choices are set forth in order to provide amore thorough understanding of the present invention. It will beappreciated, however, by one skilled in the art that embodiments of theinvention may be practiced without such specific details. In otherinstances, control structures, gate level circuits and full softwareinstruction sequences have not been shown in detail in order not toobscure the embodiments of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in theart, with the included descriptions will be able to implementappropriate functionality without undue experimentation.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed.

Embodiments of the invention include features, methods or processes thatmay be embodied within machine-executable instructions provided by amachine-readable medium. A machine-readable medium includes anymechanism which provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information ina form accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, a network device, apersonal digital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set ofone or more processors, etc.). In example embodiments, amachine-readable medium includes volatile and/or non-volatile media(e.g., read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic diskstorage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.).

Such instructions are utilized to cause a general or special purposeprocessor, programmed with the instructions, to perform methods orprocesses of the embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, thefeatures or operations of embodiments of the invention are performed byspecific hardware components which contain hard-wired logic forperforming the operations, or by any combination of programmed dataprocessing components and specific hardware components. Embodiments ofthe invention include software, data processing hardware, dataprocessing system-implemented methods, and various processingoperations, further described herein.

In view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments describedherein, this detailed description is intended to be illustrative only,and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. What isclaimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as maycome within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalentsthereto. Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded inan illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine-readable medium including instructionswhich when executed by a machine causes the machine to performoperations comprising: sorting mail that comprises a multiple pass mailsort operation, wherein the multiple pass mail sort operation for a mailpiece comprises, performing a first pass of the multiple pass mail sortoperation, wherein performing the first pass comprises capturing data toidentify a feature of the mail piece; generating a first fingerprint forthe mail piece between performing the first pass and performing a secondpass of the multiple pass mail sort operation, the first fingerprintbeing derived from the feature of the mail piece that is identifiedduring the first pass; and performing the second pass of the multiplepass mail sort operation, wherein performing the second pass comprises,capturing data to identify the feature of the mail piece; generating asecond fingerprint for the mail piece, the second fingerprint beingderived from the feature of the mail piece that is identified during thesecond pass; comparing the second fingerprint generated during thesecond pass with the first fingerprint generated during the first passto uniquely identify the mail piece; determining a final sorting of themail piece based on the comparing of the second fingerprint to the firstfingerprint, wherein the first fingerprint is used to uniquely identifythe mail piece during the determining of the final sorting, whereindetermining the final sorting of the mail piece is independent of use ofa bar code by the multiple pass mail sort operation for identificationfor final sorting of the mail piece.
 2. The machine-readable medium ofclaim 1, wherein the feature includes at least one of a multi-digitdelivery point, a name, and an endorsement.
 3. The machine-readablemedium of claim 1, wherein the multiple pass mail sort operation isexecuted by an optical character recognition letter sorter.
 4. Themachine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the multiple pass mail sortoperation is executed by a combined input output subsystem sorter. 5.The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein performing the secondpass requires human intervention for at least one of a review and aphysical movement to a different device.
 6. The machine-readable mediumof claim 1, wherein identifying the mail piece during the determining ofthe final sorting comprises reviewing certain parts of the firstfingerprint in a given order until the mail piece is uniquelyidentified.
 7. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein thefeature includes at least one of a logo, a stamp, a background color, asequence order, and a relative position.
 8. The machine-readable mediumof claim 1, wherein capturing data to identify a feature of the mailpiece comprises, capturing data to identify a feature of each side of aparcel mail piece.
 9. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, whereingenerating a fingerprint for the mail piece comprises, generating afingerprint for the mail piece from the feature of each side of a parcelmail piece.
 10. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein themultiple pass mail sort operation is executed by a flats forwardingsystem.
 11. A machine-readable medium including instructions which whenexecuted by a machine causes the machine to perform operationscomprising: sorting mail that comprises a multiple pass mail sortoperation, wherein the multiple pass mail sort operation for a mailpiece that is a candidate undeliverable as addressed comprises,performing a first pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation,wherein performing the first pass comprises capturing data to identify afeature of the mail piece; generating a first fingerprint for the mailpiece between performing the first pass and performing a second pass ofthe multiple pass mail sort operation, the first fingerprint beingderived from the feature of the mail piece that is identified during thefirst pass; and storing the image of the mail piece and its fingerprintfor off-line processing; and performing the second pass of the multiplepass mail sort operation, wherein performing the second pass comprises,capturing data to identify the feature of the mail piece; generating asecond fingerprint for the mail piece, the second fingerprint beingderived from the feature of the mail piece that is identified during thesecond pass; comparing the second fingerprint generated during thesecond pass with the first fingerprint generated during the first passto uniquely identify the mail piece; determining a final disposition ofthe mail piece that is undeliverable as addressed based on the comparingof the second fingerprint to the first fingerprint, wherein the firstfingerprint is used to uniquely identify the mail piece during thedetermining of the final disposition, wherein determining the finaldisposition of the mail piece that is undeliverable as addressed isindependent of use of a bar code by the multiple pass mail sortoperation for identification for final disposition of the mail piece.12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the off-lineprocessing comprises: confirming that the mail piece is undeliverable asaddressed; and storing the fingerprint along with the confirmationinformation for use during the second pass.
 13. The machine-readablemedium of claim 11, wherein determining the final disposition includesutilizing the fingerprint and the confirmation information stored duringthe off-line processing to determine that the mail piece isundeliverable as addressed.
 14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11,wherein capturing data to identify a feature of the mail piececomprises, capturing data to identify a feature of each side of a parcelmail piece.
 15. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, whereingenerating a fingerprint for the mail piece comprises, generating afingerprint for the mail piece from the feature of each side of a parcelmail piece.
 16. A computerized method comprising: sorting mail thatcomprises a multiple pass mail sort operation, wherein the multiple passmail sort operation for a mail piece comprises, performing a first passof the multiple pass mail sort operation, wherein performing the firstpass comprises capturing data to identify a feature of the mail piece;generating a first fingerprint for the mail piece between performing thefirst pass and performing a second pass of the multiple pass mail sortoperation, the first fingerprint being derived from the feature of themail piece that is identified during the first pass; and storing theimage of the mail piece and its fingerprint for off-line processing; andperforming the second pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation,wherein performing the second pass comprises, capturing data to identifythe feature of the mail piece; generating a second fingerprint for themail piece, the second fingerprint being derived from the feature of themail piece that is identified during the second pass; comparing thesecond fingerprint generated during the second pass with the firstfingerprint generated during the first pass to uniquely identify themail piece; sorting the mail piece to its destination based on thecomparing of the second fingerprint to the first fingerprint, whereinthe first fingerprint is used to uniquely identify the mail piece duringthe sorting of the mail piece, wherein sorting the mail piece isindependent of use of a bar code by the multiple pass mail sortoperation for sorting the mail piece.
 17. The computerized method ofclaim 16, wherein the off-line processing comprises: determining thesorting destination of the mail piece; and storing the fingerprint alongwith the sorting destination information for use during the second pass.18. The computerized method of claim 16, wherein sorting the mail pieceto its destination includes utilizing the fingerprint and the sortingdestination information stored during the off-line processing todetermine the sorting destination of the mail piece.
 19. Thecomputerized method of claim 16, wherein capturing data to identify afeature of the mail piece comprises, capturing data to identify afeature of each side of a parcel mail piece.
 20. The computerized methodof claim 16, wherein generating a fingerprint for the mail piececomprises, generating a fingerprint for the mail piece from the featureof each side of a parcel mail piece.
 21. The computerized method ofclaim 16, wherein the multiple pass mail sort operation is executed by aflats forwarding system.